Carmine

The sun raised high and the wind surged pass us with a deep chorus. Overlooking Martoniss, my joints ached with the sudden compulsion to kneel and prostrate myself on all fours. From my knees and elbows begging to taste rock, I wrestled myself to a stance.

The tears were already shed. Five already confirmed that the King of Ascus was in there, Aconm to accurate. He relayed to me, how the busy servants and fickle nobility bickered of his overpowering presence.

We traveled as Maju’s retainers. Her husband, the lord asked about us, but she disarmed his concerns and got us within his circle as entertainment. Valor, I, and Sandream wore masks and heavy robes.

We stayed on the wagon, while the officials did their checks. The security of the keep seemed numerous, but not effective.

For the Lord of Ersury had no problem getting pass the guards, so we reached inside with no problem.

Maju got us together into a guest room.

It was big and with its own sub-chamber and pantry. The red varnished room loosed thin cotton strings that held wooden beads off the windows. The multicolored carpet consisted of light yellow and blue thin swirls from the center towards the corners.

Crushing our feet into the soft carpet, Janilla and I stared around in awe. I nudged Janilla and asked her to follow me to the sub-chamber.

The sub-chamber led downstairs and it curved a good three times into a deep, but large room.

Once we lit the torches on the intricately well-designed statue arms. A creepy illustration of Tiam’s love for the strong, yet I showed no disdain. I was similar in that regard.

The tub was wide, square, and raised on a high walled platform. The surrounding basins carved out of the wall, allowed for soaps and other articles to be stored.

Scraps of linen clothes laid in a basket. What I needed was a pot, and I found a short one. Golden in color, the dark motifs cresting the lower part that arched outward to its round leg were of animals.

This would do.

I already had the bomb paste. The trigger which could have been activated by a slicing weapon with a simple thread connected to each paste. I inserted each, still, the paste needed curing. The four blocks of Photsythen were taken out of Janilla’s knapsack and placed inside the pot, now filled with water.

My anticipation became a fever, for a spectacular eruption awaited my celebrated return to Tiam.

I went back up and leaned back on the bed. The others loitered around me.

Janilla sighed, looked out the window carefully using the curtain to cover her body. “Swear, I never thought we would be back here.”

Valor nodded his head. “Yes, but at least I can finally get you to Ascus. What did you say to me back then, you would pay me anything, even give me lordship over a city?”

I would have said something to that effect back then, but I was sure I did not. “Maju brought me here. So you get nothing.”

“Huh?” He uttered.

I snickered. “Calm down, you are with me and will be blessed as long as you are with me.”

“Oh, I wonder when the blessing will start, when you are dead?” Sandream asked.

I pointed at her without looking at her. “It is good to see you making jokes again, Jester.”

Sandream grunted, but I noted a smirk in my peripheral. She said, “Best to do this before anyone realizes we are here.”

I nodded. “Five, locate the King of Ascus.”

He did and gave us the directions. Sandream, I and Janilla walked down the last brown walled hall with black dotted white floors under our soft steps. To be on edge was a gift I assumed. It was better than being lost without knowledge to have quenched my appetite.

The deeper I went, the more danger I absorbed.

Two soldiers loitered just outside the door. There was one woman who gestured to one of the soldiers. Their dress and armor all subtlety reminded me of my childhood.

Once they saw us approaching, the soldiers stared at the woman continuing her bickering.

Janilla spoke, “Greetings, I am the faithful servant of The Scorched Blood, Carmine Omeeka Curburgh of the Black Fire. I request an audience with the King of Ascus.”

Sandream drew back her shawl and allowed her face to be seen.

The soldiers blinked briefly before looking at each other, then they shot dazed gazes at us. The other woman, her jaw dropped.

Janilla continued, “Please if you will—”

The soldiers looked at each other again. One soldier made as if to speak, but he just shook his head in amusement at us. This was getting ridiculous.

Sandream finally commanded them. “Get my half-brother. Did he not come here to see me? Are you really sure you want to keep me, the rightful daughter of the King waiting?” The soldiers stood straight and regained sense. One left to go inside.

The other woman shifted continuously, avoided looking at us as we stood there, waiting. The soldier came back and beckoned us inside.

They went in and I rounded the soldiers and walked away.

I looked back and saw the soldiers going inside. The woman went down the hall. I came around the corner then swiftly turned back, following the woman.

It had not taken much to the imagination to assume where she was going. Still, this led to the open part of the keep. The roof was higher here. Beyond this corridor, the sun gazed down through a circle in the roof, I froze at the end of that hall and peeked around the corner.

She went into a room. I waited, breathed, and with purpose walked to the door, opening it, flesh greeted me.

The barely clothed skin of women, dingy looking, their clothes tattered white linen. White linen clothes hung from a string above them. From the pans of water, some dirty, some filled with clothes, the moisture of this space washed over me better than the clothes.

Then my eyes caught the branding on their necks.

Slaves, fantastic, that woman again turned with a flurry and exclaimed in what I assumed was the language of Amoth. Something about not killing her, which prompted a low groan. I drew my dagger and aimed it at her.

They screamed out, so I shouted, “Silence!”

Whimpering in moaning discontent, I felt sorry for them. I sighed for this was only the start of the annoyance my feet jumped into.

Slaves were not known for loose lips, but I was not taking any chances. The longer Aconm doesn't know I was here, the better.

I gathered them together into the center of the room. There were too many of them. I clutched my dagger harder.

Maybe I should…

They shivered before me and avoided my gaze. No, I could not sully my hand in such a manner. A lot of titles were attached to my name through my travels, a murderer was not a title I would carry. My grip loosened as I flipped my head around.

Those sheets…

Five come here.

Yes, Mother.

I looked up at the strings and pulled one down, throwing it at one of the servants. “Tie your friends up.”